If you’ve been following the headlines lately, chances are, you probably haven’t found much humor in current events. Economic bailouts, oil spills, and ship raids aren’t easy fodder for comedy. In spite of everything, we wanted to take a break from all the bad news and try to have a good chuckle.
Even though the language business isn’t exactly a joke factory, language and translation have always provided comics with material. The following five sketches span several decades, and they show that issues involving language often work their ways into a comedian’s repertoire. Enjoy!
A Bit of Fry & Laurie: The Subject of Language
David Mitchell’s Soapbox: Dear America…
The Two Ronnies: Swedish Made Simple
The Catherine Tate Show: Lauren’s French Exam
Fawlty Towers: Basil Gives Manuel a Language Lesson
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These are great! Thanks for sharing them.
There’s another Catherine Tate one here
http://wp.me/pvG8C-8l
and here’s the marvellous Stanley Baxter (who might be a bit difficult for non-Glaswegians!)
http://wp.me/pvG8C-kQ
Thanks Marian!!
how long have this existed